National leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and senator representing Bayelsa west, Seriake Dickson says the party has not been deregistered despite the recent ruling of a federal high court in Lokoja, Kogi state.
Speaking on Sunday during an interview on Channels Television, Dickson said the party disagreed with the legal basis of the ruling, describing it as a decision delivered by a court that “had become functus officio”.
“It’s a court that ordinarily doesn’t have jurisdiction to sit on appeal over its own earlier judgements,” he said.
The former Bayelsa state governor said the party had begun the legal process to challenge the ruling.
“Basically, we disagree as a party about the legal basis and the propriety of the ruling. The party is taking the appropriate and right legal steps to ensure that the right thing is done,” he said.
Responding to questions about the party’s legal status, Dickson said the NDC remains a valid political party.
“The NDC has not been deregistered. The NDC has validly nominated candidates for all elective offices in primaries monitored nationwide by INEC,” he said.
The senator said the party had successfully conducted primaries for state assembly, house of representatives, senate, governorship and presidential elections within the timetable issued by the electoral commission.
“I myself am also a senatorial candidate of the party. All nominations have been validly carried out, monitored by INEC, in accordance with the time frame given by INEC,” he said.
Dickson said the submission of candidates’ names to INEC was merely an administrative procedure and did not affect the validity of nominations.
“So, I assure all our candidates and members that those nominations are valid,” he said.
“The submission to INEC is an administrative procedure. So the NDC is still a party. The court itself did not deregister it. And no step has been taken whatsoever to that effect.”
Dickson said the party would challenge the ruling at the court of appeal and, if necessary, pursue the matter to the highest court.
“As soon as possible, once the appeal is lodged and the necessary papers are filed, it’s a matter that will go to the highest levels to set aside the irregular judgment,” he said.
“Once a high court has given a judgement on a matter, the court shouldn’t have any business with anyone who is complaining.
“From Friday, thousands of Nigerians have been flocking to our website to register.
“They now know more about our party. They sympathise with our party and our candidates. And they are flocking and buying into the vision of our party and our candidates.”
